Arrangement for the upper part(s) of a shoe

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an upper part for a shoe, in which the dimensional design of its inside ( 3 ) and outside ( 4 ) provides considerable adjustability through assembly with fastening devices ( 5 ) positioned and constructed in such a way that it gives a highly stable upper part ( 2 ), the characteristics of which in terms of material and properties permit is adaptation to different sizes of feet. The upper part of the shoe is in the form of woven fabric or some other flexible material, the fastening devices are in the form of Velcro® fastening devices, at least some of which exhibit circular form, and the under side ( 4 ) of the outside of the upper part of the shoe exhibits connecting devices ( 18 ) essentially for its detachable attachment to a sole ( 15, 16 ) or other under part of the shoe capable of being placed in contact with a floor.

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement which functions as the upper part(s) for a conventional shoe or for specially manufactured shoes for certain purposes, for example a sport shoe.

[0002] The invention relates to the upper part of a shoe, the function of which is to enclose the foot in a supporting and durable fashion and to be adjustable for various sizes of feet. The invention relates to fastening arrangements for this purpose and also provides a fastening arrangement for attachment to the under part(s) of the shoe, or the sole(s), which is/are the part(s) on which the foot rests when standing and during various forms of movement.

[0003] Material

[0004] The material is preferably a woven fabric-like material, which can range from a very thin and extremely light material to a thicker and thus heavier material, and a material with tensile strength in terms of its ductility/rigidity. The invention must also be capable of adaptation to different environments, for example heat, cold and damp. Examples of materials used in the upper part range from woven fabric to rubber, cardboard, cloth, leather and plastic.

[0005] Adjustability

[0006] Adjustability is an important aspect of the invention. This permits the position of the foot on the under part(s) to be varied by means of fastening arrangement mechanisms consisting primarily of Velcro,,a felt and hook system, which function in relation to the toe, front, arch and heel of the foot. The invention can be readily attached to the under part(s), sole or sole parts of most shoes. It is suitable for the inventor's own earlier shoe invention in accordance with WO 98/27839.

[0007] Damage problem The problem of damage is always associated with conventional shoes, and high priority is devoted to its solution in the present invention. The ability of the object of the invention to be adapted in an optimal fashion to foot sizes, the position of the foot on the under part/outsole and the extremely low weight of the material are damage-preventing considerations in every respect.

[0008] Prior art

[0009] A shoe previously disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,629 A exhibits the possibility of adjusting the rear heel part of the shoe as well as a front part, which bridges the front instep part of the foot in the same way as in a sandal. Velcro fastening devices are used in this case to attach the free ends of the upper part of the shoe, which is securely attached to a rigid sole. The sole is stiff, and adaptation of the upper part of the shoe to different sizes of feet is not possible for that reason, and the shoe is designed to be capable of being adapted to different degrees of swollen feet, i.e. only the width is adjustable.

[0010] The aforementioned previously disclosed shoes are no lighter than ordinary sandals or slippers.

[0011] The principal object of the present invention is thus, in the first instance, to solve the aforementioned problems, among others.

[0012] The aforementioned object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that the upper part of the shoe is in the form of woven fabric or some other flexible material, in that the fastening devices are in the form of Velcro fastening devices, at least some of which exhibit circular form, and in that the under side of the outside of the upper part of the shoe exhibits connecting devices essentially for its detachable attachment to a sole or other under part of the shoe capable of being placed in contact with a floor.

[0013] The function depends on a very durable upper part, which is optimally adapted to the foot and thus optimally adapted to the individual wearer, which serves as an under part, and which may be a conventional shoe sole, such that it is readily capable of removal, for example to enable it to be washed, and of then being replaced, for example as a treatment shoe, with no left and no right, or as a special shoe for sports use, and to make the upper part permanent. The upper part is thus able to exhibit all adjustment possibilities and a more limited opening, which then resembles a conventional upper part with left and right fitting.

[0014] Mechanism: This embodies the circular form of the Velcro attachments. The circular form—unlike straight strips—ensures that no part pulls out of alignment and that the foot sits perfectly. We can expect to see moulded, stocking-like envelopes in the near future, although these are likely to be difficult to adjust. If you wish to have increased tightening pressure at any point on the foot, the Velcro circles now make this possible.

[0015] Material: Woven fabric, certain parts of which can be given increased extensibility, which can then increase the comfort.

[0016] Weight: Can be made extremely light, at 10-20 grammes, for track running, and increasingly thick and heavier for extreme conditions, such as outdoor activities and hiking, etc.

[0017] Damage prevention: Weight reduction almost always has a damage-preventing effect. The adjustment, which is adapted entirely to the individual, gives the foot the freedom to work for itself.

[0018] Production: Inexpensive and simple production. The carbon fibre under part, however, lies at the other extremity.

[0019] The function of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020]FIG. 1 shows the invention viewed from the inside, illustrating the left and right parts of the upper part and the toe and heel parts in an unfolded, but not assembled, position;

[0021]FIG. 2 shows the upper part viewed from the under part with the left and right parts of the outside and the toe and heel parts of the outside in an unfolded, but not assembled, position;

[0022]FIG. 3 shows the steps in the assembly of the invention to form a functioning envelope, i.e. a shoe-like upper part;

[0023]FIG. 4 shows a side view of the inside, at an angle from below and not attached to an under part;

[0024]FIG. 5 shows a side view of the outside, at an angle from below and not attached to an under part;

[0025]FIG. 6 shows a toe part viewed from the front;

[0026]FIG. 7 shows a heel part viewed from the rear;

[0027]FIG. 8 shows how the upper part is attached to the under part(s) and sole/sole parts;

[0028]FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively show the inside and the outside of a variant of the shoe upper part in the extended position; and

[0029]FIGS. 11 and 12 show a further variant of a shoe upper part in the extended position viewed from the inside and the outside.

[0030] The invention has a large market in the leisure field, in competitive sport and as a treatment shoe in the health care sector.

[0031] Advantages: identical for the left and the right shoe, low weight, adjustability for a number of different sizes, permanently or detachably attached to the under part. The upper part consists essentially of a woven fabric material capable of withstanding heat, cold, damp and heavy use, such as that encountered in orienteering.

[0032] In accordance with the invention, which relates to an arrangement 1 for the upper part(s) 2 of a shoe intended to be attached to different designs of the under part(s), sole or sole parts of shoes, the upper part 2 exhibits an inside 3, i.e. the side of the upper part 2 which is intended to make contact with a person's foot 10 with the foot correctly positioned therein, and which exhibits an outside 4 which forms the under side that is applied to the under part(s) or sole/sole parts of a conventional or special shoe, and which also forms the left and right outside of the shoe and the outside of the heel.

[0033] Fastening devices, 5, 5 ¹, 5 ², 5 ³, 5 ⁴, 5 ⁵, 5 ⁶, 5 ^(A), 5 ^(1A), 5 ^(2A), 5 ^(3A), 5 ^(4A), 5 ^(5A), 5 ^(6A) connect together the inside 3 of the upper part consisting of, for example, Velcro felt, i.e. eye-formed soft attachment elements, preferably circular in shape, with the outside 4 consisting of, for example, Velcro hooks, i.e. hook-shaped, sharper attachment elements, preferably circular in shape. Lacing systems or straps can also be envisaged as a more conventional solution with attachment points on the upper side and the heel part of the foot. The advantage of fastening devices 5, 4 of the Velcro type is that today's Velcro systems are highly resistant to wear and permit more than 3000 openings/closings of the Velcro. The Velcro is also easy to replace.

[0034] Folding and fastening of the upper part 2 of the shoe can take place appropriately in the sequence indicated by the letters A-H in the order shown in the drawing in FIG. 3.

[0035] By virtue of their design, the fastening devices 5-5 ^(6A) can accommodate a range of shoe sizes from ca. 37-44, for example size M for the upper part 2 and increasing dimensions L for sizes 45 and above. Upper part 2 size S, for example for shoe sizes 36 and smaller.

[0036] Present in the upper part 2 at the front is a folding toe part 6, and at the rear a folding heel part 7.

[0037] The dimensional design of the upper part 2 means that the same dimensional design can be used for both the left foot and the right foot.

[0038] Application of the upper part 2 of the shoe to an under part 15, 16 of a shoe is effected with the under side 4 of the upper part 2 and can be performed using previously disclosed technology: adhesive, sewing, moulding and screws, etc., although it is preferably effected with Velcro felt and hooks. The under part 15/16 is then covered with the felt. part 17 of the Velcro, i.e. the loops, and is pressed together with the under side 4 of the upper part 2, which is covered with Velcro hooks. This now forms a fully functional shoe 19.

[0039] Numerous advantages are associated with the above invention and its adaptation to conventional and special shoes, of which my previous invention in accordance with WO 98/27839 is an example. Advantages: 1 simple; 2 durable assembly; 3 adjustability; 4 weight reduction, and 5 maximum adaptation to the individual.

[0040] The upper part 102 of the shoe illustrated in the drawings in FIGS. 9 and 10 exhibits fastening devices in the form of circular Velcro attachment devices 105-105 in 105 ^(A)-105 ^(A) and with elongated Velcro attachment devices 105 ^(B), 105 ^(1B), 105 ^(C), 105 ^(1C) extending along the sides of the foot respectively on the inside 103 and on the outside 104 of the envelope 102. Inward-facing fastening devices exhibit soft loops, while outward-facing fastening devices exhibit harder hooks.

[0041] The toe part 106 and the heel part 110 are formed from the pliable flexible material in the upper part 102 of the shoe, which externally 104 exhibits an elongated strip of a Velcro fastening device 111 in the form of hooks.

[0042] The upper part 202 of the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 11-12 exhibits circular soft fastening devices 205-205 ⁶ with Velcro loops on the inside 203, apart from at the toe part 206 and the heel part 210, and with circular fastening devices 205 ^(A)-205 ^(7A) on the outside 204 of the upper part 202 with Velcro hooks. The size of the circles may be a diameter of between 30 and 100 mm for each circular fastening device.

[0043] This may appropriately be between 80 and 100 mm, but preferably 90 mm.

[0044] The under side of this upper part is also in the form of a centrally located part 211 provided with a Velcro fastening device in the form of hooks.

[0045] The execution of all, or at least a majority, of the aforementioned fastening devices in the form of identical, or essentially identical, circular Velcro fastening devices offers the possibility of increasing the adjustability for different sizes of feet, and even of rotating the upper part through a full 180 degrees so that the toe part and the heel part change place. The invention is also superior to having a pull-on stocking as the upper part, since it is now possible to vary the tightening pressure at so many points.

[0046] As with conventional shoes, what is now obtained is a fastening part on the foot at its instep part with a number of mutually overlapping fastening devices. It must also be mentioned that the side pieces 50, 51 can exhibit slots 52, 53 as parts of these in order to permit greater adjustability.

[0047] The invention is not restricted to illustrative embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but may by varied within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention. 

1. Arrangement (1) for an upper part (2) of a shoe (19) comprising a piece for enclosing a foot (10) with a fold-up toe part (6) and a fold-up heel part (7), which piece is provided with a number of fastening devices (5-5 ⁶; 5 ^(A)-5 ^(6A)) distributed around the periphery of the upper part and capable of being connected together to fasten the upper part (2) to form an envelope enclosing the foot (10), characterized in that the upper part (2) of the shoe is in the form of a woven fabric or some other flexible material, in that the fastening devices are in the form of Velcro fastening devices, at least some of which exhibit circular form, and in that the under side (4) of the outside of the upper part of the shoe exhibits connecting devices (18) essentially for its detachable attachment to a sole (15, 16) or other under part of the shoe capable of being placed in contact with a floor.
 2. Arrangement in accordance with Patent claim 1, characterized in that the toe part (6) and the heel part (7) are each in the form of a folding flap on the upper part (2) of the shoe facing in opposite directions, in that a fastening device is arranged on the aforementioned toe part and heel part, and in that further fastening devices are distributed along the mutually opposite side pieces of the upper part of the shoe.
 3. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of Patent claims 1-2, characterized in that the toe part is in the form of a single folding flap on the front part of the upper part of the shoe.
 4. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of Patent claims 1-3, characterized in that the fastening devices are in the form of circular folding edge parts situated on the front part I, the rear part II and the central part III of the upper part of the shoe.
 5. Arrangement in accordance with Patent claim 4, characterized in that three circular fastening devices are situated on the front part of the upper part of the shoe.
 6. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of Patent claims 4-5, characterized in that three circular fastening devices are situated on the rear part of the upper part of the shoe.
 7. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of Patent claims 4-6, characterized in that pairs of circular fastening devices are situated on the central part of the upper part of the shoe.
 8. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of Patent claims 4-7, characterized in that the circular fastening devices exhibit a diameter of between 30 and 1000 mm, appropriately between 80 and 100 mm, but preferably 90-95 mm.
 9. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of Patent claims 4-8, characterized in that laterally situated fastening devices exhibit male Velcro fastening devices on one side and female Velcro fastening devices on the other side.
 10. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of Patent claims 4-9, characterized in that the longitudinal, centrally located part of the upper part of the shoe is in the form of a downward-facing part provided with Velcro fastening devices. 